CDNPolar

I personally am not bothered by what others wear, but do participate in these discussions by adding my observations. We dress how we dress, which is more elegant casual, because it make US feel better and we feel the evening is more of an event when we dress up a bit. The dress code on Viking is not stated as "casual" end of. The dress code on Viking is stated as "Elegant Casual". Big difference. What often comes into discussion here is that Viking have this posted, but the complaint is they don't always enforce it. It is quite clear with examples on their FAQ's What is the dress code? During the day, dress is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, swim shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center, pool areas and Sports Deck. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted. The evening dress excludes World Café where the dress remains casual after 6:00 PM.

See, we prefer off season and cold seasons for River Cruises - or any cruise. We hate the heat. The Nile and Egypt was almost unbearable for us and would have been if the heat was humid heat. We did Treasures of the Rhine last year December/January and it rained every day. It was what I would say was "Cool" and damp. Being Canadian from central Canada, the temps for us were not cold, but it was damp and damp cold is more penetrating to me. We had temps in the 0C up to 12/14C most days with heavy cloud. When it was not raining it was gloomy. It is true that it would have been "prettier" if it was a less rainy period and some sun, but we enjoyed the cruise regardless. We don't let weather get us down. We go rain or shine and smile the whole time.

We have never had issues getting a 2 top, but we are generally always in the Restaurant right at 6pm when they open. The Restaurant tends to fill up a bit later, but I think that you are mostly ok. WC does have a lot of 2 tops, but the window seats are more 4's and 6's and we will take an empty 4 top and we are alone for our meal. The WC does not fill as quickly for dinner as the Restaurant - IMO and experience.

This is a thing that you can do???????

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Under 21 can not drink on a Viking Ship. We have a friend that we travelled with and she brought her granddaughter who was 18. Grandma wanted the SSBP but could not buy in advance because online and through reservations she was not old enough to drink and both in the cabin must purchase. Once on the ship Grandma appealed to the Guest Services and F&B Manager and was granted the permission to buy for just herself. If you really want the package you are going to have to attempt to get this on the ship, but there is no promise that you will get it. I would say that if you go about it the right way - which is after boarding, and have the underage with you for the meeting with the F&B Manager that you will likely get it.

All very good points.

I may be way off base with this, but on Viking I have noticed that new cruisers with Viking and especially the younger ones (20's) are not as well dressed. We were on a River Cruise over Christmas and New Year this past December and I was actually a bit freaked by some of the dress. One woman in a different black metal t-shirt every day, and others that just looked like slobs. As I talked to some of these folks over the cruise, I found that many were on their first cruise. Dunno... we will dress as we dress which is a bit elevated from what we wear doing our grocery shop and gardening.

Gosh, I love to be in the WC as it opens for Breakfast, especially on a sea day, when it is sunny and you have just this expansive view... The salad options are great for sure. This is a draw for us as we are not vegetarian, but probably consume 95% of what we eat on the side of vegetarian. Meat is a very small consideration for us. My husband being Asian decent meat to him is more of a flavouring to a dish rather than the star of the dish that North Americans are more in tune with.

Thanks! Certainly something to consider. I don't mind, or actually enjoy, taking public transit in other countries. Like the experience. The London Tube can be at times difficult with large checked bag, and a carryon, and a shoulder bag each. Just did a Google map and it certainly looks doable, especially on a Saturday morning. I know my Husband will say let's take a cab however. We have not decided if we are going to do a couple days in advance in London yet. We may even do Viking's pre-package which then would include transfers.

Question is how "immediate" is Lomotil? This is a pill that has to digest. Immodium quick dissolve works almost immediately for me.

We were on a river cruise over both Christmas and New Year this past December. We went on a very enjoyable winery tour on the 24th of December and brought back a bottle for Christmas Eve dinner and also a bottle of bubbly for New Years Eve. Often discussed here and there (not necessarily about Viking excursions) where there is an expectation to buy something when you are taken into a store... (We felt this clearly on our Egypt River Cruise). We have never felt the pressure to buy wine when we are on a winery tour with Viking BUT I feel almost an responsibility to buy at least one bottle and bring it back, but only if we really enjoyed one of the wines we tasted. I see this as our way to give a little to the economy where we are visiting. I do emphasize however that we have never felt obligated, and I see most walk out without purchasing. To us, this is kind of special to bring that bottle back and have Viking open it for us.

We have sailed mostly Viking but also Uniworld and Hurtigruten. Personally the breakfast and lunch buffet on Hurtigruten although not as expansive as Viking, in my opinion was slightly better, but the dinner choices and execution on Hurtigruten did not hold a candle to Viking evening meals and choices. Uniworld was The Nile and to me the food was passable. Passable meaning that I would not complain, but there was nothing really to compliment beyond the fact that it was good food on par with a decent restaurant at home. To us with our more limited experience Viking wins, but this vote is subjective to our tastes and experiences.

We have been close and right across and never bothered us at all. Looks like this is a mixed bag of YES, and NO. Think that it may come down to your sensitivity for sound.

Our first cruise in 2025 is for our 10th wedding anniversary. We are not telling Viking or our TA because we dread this kind of thing happening. If I get into this situation ever - and I hope I don't - and Guest Services could not give us back our original cabin or one that we considered acceptable in exchange, I would be emailing tellus@vikingcurises.com while on the cruise. This would be a fatal blow for me and I am not one that would appreciate this as a surprise. The 2025 cruise has been booked with our selected and desired cabin for almost a year now. Don't change my cabin. Airlines can upgrade me to business anytime and I don't even care if my husbands seat is within talking distance, but don't change my cabin.

That was served every night on our cruise... delicious!

But, my understanding in this situation - because we were in this in December with a booking two weeks out from sailing - is that anyone in a Guaranteed situation is informed before arriving at the ship. And, it was also my understanding that the Guaranteed cabin person that is given the upgrade, not someone that already has a cabin number assigned.

I dread this situation. We don't want to get a surprise of a cabin that we don't like the location of. If someone called us and offered us that is one thing, but I have read this before that someone arrived at the ship and were checked in to a different cabin than booked and could not have their original booked cabin.

Ok... after 10 Viking cruises, we are waiting for that phone call. We were on re-start cruises at the end of the pandemic that 300 cabins open and were not offered an upgrade. I find the whole upgrade thing an interesting concept with Viking.

Completed 6 to date and have 4 booked.

Here in Canada now it is $92 bucks a bottle I think... At least $89 for sure. (Exchange part of that and taxes... ahhh... our taxes on liquor products.)

Spectacular before the sun rise.

There is an interesting post by a brand new member in another forum, that tells the story that two weeks before her cruise the cruise line cancelled the cruise and offered refund to the cruise fare, but no compensation for purchased air (assume on own) or visas, etc., that were costs incurred that now could not be recovered. My question is, does your cancelation insurance - if you buy it - cover you for cancellation fees associated with costs such as cancelling air fare purchased? Other costs could be if you prepaid hotels before or after the cruise that are non-refundable? Full airfare may not be recoverable if the air transfers into a credit for future use, but there still could be cancelation fees associated. I have looked into my current annual policy which is a Canadian Blue Cross policy, and I will call them to ask the question directly. All I can find in the Blue Cross language is the following but I don't know if this is actually stating coverage for this situation or not? When the loss incurred is directly or indirectly caused by a travel provider default, the reimbursement of your insured travel expenses is limited to the amount indicated on your insurance certificate, up to a maximum of $7,500 per insured person. In addition, the total amount that the insurer will be required to pay for all claims in the event of a travel provider default must not exceed: - $2,000,000 per event - $5,000,000 per calendar year

For us, happiness is having several cruises booked in the future. Gives us something to talk about (between us) and plan for which is exciting to us. We go through waves of talking and planning for the most current upcoming cruise to the third cruise in the line up. Some of this is strategy with Viking to keep the 6 month full payment option alive and much easier to do now with $25 pp deposits. (The 6 month full payment option for CAD and US) It is not uncommon for us however to decide to move a cruise that is booked now to a different date or even a different itinerary entirely. We actually see these as placeholders for travel.

Yeah - I have one brother that is notoriously late for everything and we have offered to join us and they always respond that they will think about it. Never a commitment. This would be the brother that one day will say "Oh, that cruise you mentioned, we would like to join you" and I guarantee you that the ship will be sold out, or sold out of cabins that they would choose to afford.

It may not, but it also may... Free Air is still air that is in Viking's air contract rates and would fall under the same rules and costs as air that they are charging us for. We always have to pay the deviation fees and any up=charges if they are there. The air is not "free", this is just Viking's way of discounting the price of the cruise without discounting the cabin price. To me, and this may or may not be the real truth, I see this as a brilliant marketing move. By offering a deal to guests with free air, Viking never reduces the cabin price which keeps a certain value of that cabin in front of us. If they were to discount the cabin significantly then we would see non-discounted cabins as very expensive for future cruises... Not sure if the above is making sense the way I am saying it? It makes perfect sense to me however as this is a pricing type of strategy that is used in different industries. The act of lowering your price makes the consumer only see the lower price in the future and then they see the regular price as high. With Viking we always see the air as extra cost, which it is. Don't get me wrong, this is a deal when they give free air, and a strategic way to do it.